The Director of the Legal Directorate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edudzi Tameklo, has emphasized that Ghana's financial challenges stem not from revenue shortfalls but from the mismanagement and wastage of accrued state revenues.

In an interview on The Big Issues with Roland Walker on TV3 on February 5, Mr. Tameklo commented on the government's reported withdrawal of the proposal to impose a 15% VAT on residential electricity consumers.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and affiliated labor unions had announced plans for a nationwide demonstration on February 13 if the government did not reverse the directive by the Ministry of Finance to the Electricity Company of Ghana.

“Consistent with the dishonest character of this Bawumia/Akufo-Addo administration immediately organized labour said they were going to protest, government’s assigns and hype men decided to go on this trajectory by saying that they were going to drop it.

“Organized Labour, I want to put before you today that this government is so dishonest that the only reason why they want to drop this 15 percent ECG VAT is simply because of the election ahead and that should you make the mistake of voting for them to remain in power they will go back for this 15 % VAT. This is a government that said in the midst of Covid 19 that they were giving us free water, free electricity, immediately they got elected in 2020 they imposed Covid levy on us,” he said.

Government sources later revealed that the proposal would not be implemented. According to Mr. Tameklo, "No government has collected more taxes than the Akufo-Addo government. They have obtained substantial revenue from Ghanaians. Our problem is not a lack of revenue; it is pervasive corruption, waste, and the government's extreme recklessness."

He argued that the withdrawal of the VAT is a political maneuver ahead of the 2024 elections. Mr. Tameklo accused the government of being dishonest, stating, "This government is so dishonest that the only reason they want to drop this 15 percent ECG VAT is simply because of the upcoming election. Should you make the mistake of voting for them to remain in power, they will reintroduce this 15% VAT." He also highlighted past instances of promises made during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as free water and electricity, being followed by the imposition of a COVID levy after the 2020 election.